Hydrofoil craft



B. G. NEWSOM HYDROFOIL CRAFT Jan. 14, 1969 Sheet o lf 5 Filed April 16, 1968 INVENTOR away 4" 04 3 50/ 2 BY gemmesandsemmes V ATTORNEYS B. G NEWSOM HYDROFOIL CRAFT Jan. 14, 1969 Sheet Filed April 16, 1968 BY semmesandsemmes ATTORNEYS BQG. NEWSOM HYDROFO IL CRAFT Jan. 14, 1969 Sheet Filed April 16, 1968 I INVENTOR 5455M a: AA Sfl/"V BY semmesandsemm es ATTQRNEYS United States Patent Claims Int. Cl. B63]: 1/18; A63e 5/08; B6311 1/14 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE of the vertical struts longitudinally fore and aft or laterally from side to side warps the foil to a variety of attacking attitudes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The primary problem in hydrofoil craft is varying the angle of attack of the foil to meet a variety of sea conditions and changes in vessel speed. Accordingly, a number of previous inventors have devised elaborate sensing means which are supported in advance of the foil in order to telegraph to a foil gradient adjusting mechanism the change in angle of attack required to meet a changing sea condition. For the most part, these sensing mechanisms have consisted of buoys or floats which strike the surface of the water being traveled and convey to a servo-mechanism the necessary information for varying the foil attack angle.

These hydrofoil sensing mechanisms have been widely employed in military and commercial vessels of considerable size. Very little, if any, attention has been given to the use of hydrofoils in pleasure or recreational craft.

Description 0 the prior art Earlier inventors have studied the problem of varying the angle of attack of the foil, relative to surface conditions. Note, especially Hook 2,708,894; 3,322,089 and 3,342,155 which show the employment of a forwardly extending water engaging sensing element which is operatively connected to the main foil amid ships. See Hook 2,708,894 FIG. 4 wherein the forward member is disclosed as a float mechanism. Hook also shows damping mechanisms as well as yieldably pivoting the main hydrofoil, so as to avoid damage when the foil strikes an underwater object, such as a floating log.

Gardiner 2,603,179 teaches the employment of a forward control plane, adjusting to the attitude of a wave prior to the waves striking of the hull midships where the attacking foil is positioned. Vogt 3,149,602 teaches the employment of fore and aft detecting vanes, and 20, which do not vary the angle of attack of the foils, unless and until the hull lowers its position so as to extend the vane ends into the water.

Roper 3,170,432 teaches the employment of a vertical air flap, stabilizing element attached to the foil struts, so as to avoid pitch and lend stability to the hydrofoil system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a recreational hydrofoil craft of relatively diminutive size is buoyed by compressed air. The foil includes an articulable frame which extends longitudinally within the foil as a keel with transverse ribs and vertically fore and aft of the foil as struts. Fore and aft rudder means are secured to the fore and aft struts. A seat is positioned on the aft strut and handle 3,421,468 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 bars are secured to the fore strut. The struts may be pivoted longitudinally fore and aft or laterally abeam to warp the foil and selectively vary its angle of attack. Compressed air is admitted to the foil from a reservoir so as to vary buoyant conditions. The craft may be powered by a foot pedal actuated chain and sprocket drive propeller system or by a conventional outboard motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a proposed pleasure hydrofoil craft, powered by a foot pedal and crank mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a modification, powered by a conventional outboard motor;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing pivoting of the fore and aft struts longitudinally away from each other so as to develop a warp of the foil towards the water surface;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation showing pivoting of the fore and aft struts longitudinally towards each other, so as to develop a warp away from the surface of the water; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation, showing pivoting of the fore and aft struts laterally, independently so as to develop varying warp in fore and aft portions of the foil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 the hydrofoil craft is represented as including buoyant foil 10, having a frame generally designated as 16, including a longitudinally extending keel 36 within the foil and fore and aft vertical portions 15 and 17. Transverse ribs 34 may be integrated with longitudinally extending keel 36, so as to laterally extend throughout the foil. A front steering rudder 12 may be positioned on fore strut 15 and a rear steering rudder 14 may be secured on the aft strut 17. Frame fore arm 18 terminates in handle bars 22 having rotatable handle bar twist grip 24 to control the rear steering rudder 14 and twist grip 26 to control the front steering rudder 12.

Rear vertical extension or strut 17 includes aft arm 20 extending horizontally of the foil, so as to support drive housing 28 (FIG. 1) by means of eyelets 30 and 32 and seat 50, having seat belt 52. Propeller 48 may be driven by foot pedals 40 secured to crank 38 extending through sprocket 48 and rotated by chain 49 travelling about mid-sprocket 44 and bottom sprocket 74.

Compressed air used to inflate foil 10 is held within reservoir 72 and may be fed to the foil via the conduit 70 and the frame members 30 and 17 which serve also as a conduit extension.

According to the modification of invention illustrated in FIG. 2 a conventional outboard motor 52 is supported within the aft arm shafts 56 and 45 by means of bracket 58. Seat 50' similarly is supported upon transverse struts 60 and 62 and a seat pan 64 may be connected to bracket 58 as well as the shaft ends 66 and 68. Compressed air conduit 70 leads from identical reservoirs 72 to the shaft ends 66 and 68 which serve as a feeding conduit to rear strut 17 and the foil interior.

An optical fore plate 78 and aft plate 80 may be positioned beneath rudders 12 and 14. Air pressure may be released manually by means of outlet valve 82 to deflate the foil when going slow or stopping, so that floats 72 will rest upon the water surface.

The proposed assembly eliminates the necessity for moving linkage parts such as springs, bolts and pins. By injecting air into the foil beneath the water and getting more displacement in the Water, the necessary lift can be achieved without inclining or varying the angle of attack of the foil. Thus, of the power developed for forward motion may be utilized.

Rudders 12 and 14 can be turned in the same direction to give an oblique movement, the purpose being to relate to a current at right angles and maintain a straight course. By turning the rudders Hand 14 in opposite directions or by moving the front rudder only the craft is turned in the desired direction.

In operation, if the craft is too high in the water the Operator must pivot the handle bars forwardly slightly, thus warping the platform, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and causing a lowering of the foil Within the Water.

If the craft is too low in the water the handlebar and rear strut portion are pivoted towards each other as in FIG. 4 so as to warp the craft away from the water level, developing the necessary lift for the craft. When the craft leans to one side, the operator must push the handlebars in the opposite direction, thus warping the platform, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and correcting or bringing the craft back into the position shown.

Manifestly, the rib and fore and aft struts may be varied without departing from the spirit of invention.

I claim:

1. A hydrofoil craft comprising:

(A) a buoyant foil;

(B) a frame extending longitudinally within said foil and vertically above said foil, said frame including a plurality of transverse ribs positioned within said foil;

(C) a rudder attached to a portion of said frame extending vertically above said foil; and

(D) a frame articulating handle attached to a portion of said frame extending vertically above said foil, so as to warp said frame within said foil.

2. A hydrofoil craft comprising:

(A) a buoyant foil;

(B) a frame extending longitudinally within said foil and including:

(i) vertically extending fore and aft portions at either end of said foil; and

(ii) a plurality of transverse ribs positioned within said foil;

(C) fore and aft rudders attached respectively to said fore and aft frame portions extending vertically above said foil;

(D) a frame articulating handle connected to said fore frame portion so as to warp said ribs and said longitudinally extending portion of said frame Within said foil; :and

(E) a compressed air reservoir supported on said frame above said foil and extending into said foil as a buoying mechanism.

3. A hydrofoil craft as in claim 2, including:

(F) a seat attached to said aft frame portion; and

(G) a power unit and rotatable drive attached to said aft frame portion.

4. A hydrofoil craft as in claim 3, said rotatable drive mechanism including:

(i) an independently operable motor, having a drive shaft and propeller, said motor being positioned upon a bracket attached to said aft frame portion.

5. A hydrofoil craft as in claim 3, said rotatable drive including:

(i) a rotatable crank with foot pedals at either end;

(ii) a plurality of sprockets;

(iii) a drive chain supported on said sprockets; and

(iv) a drive propeller operatively connected to said chain and positioned adjacent the aft frame portions.

6. A hydrofoil craft :as in claim 4, said handle being pivotable towards said seats, so as to warp said longitudinally extending portion of said frame and said rib downwardly from the water surface and said handle being pivotable away from said seats so as to warp said frame and ribs towards the water surface.

7. A hydrofoil craft as in claim 6, said fore and aft vertically extending frame members being independently pivotable laterally so as to Warp fore and aft area of said foil independently.

8. A hydrofoil craft as in claim 5, said handle being pivotable towards said seats, so as to warp said longitudinally extending portion of said frame and said rib downwardly from the water surface and said handle being pivotable away from said seat so as to warp said frame and ribs towards the Water surface.

9. A hydrofoil craft as in claim 8, said fore and aft vertically extending frame members being independently pivotable laterally so as to warp fore and aft area of said foil independently.

10. A hydrofoil craft as in claim 3, said handle including:

(i) a handle bar With hand grips; and

(ii) rudder controls extending from said hand grip through said frame to said rudders.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,832 7/1958 Fried -70 3,081,729 3/1963 Lee 114-66.5 3,156,935 11/1964 Long 9-310 3,323,483 6/1967 Crow 115-70 ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 9-310; 115-70 

